Page 50 of Gods' Battleground

I saw it on the large television that hung from the ceiling: a forest at night. On the screen, Bella was turning, her eyes scanning, searching.

Do you see the Beast?I projected to her.

No,she replied.Do you?

Not yet,I told her.

Well, I’m sure I’ll find him. Or he’ll find me,she sighed.

I really hated being stuck here, so far from Bella. I hated that distant, powerless feeling I got whenever someone I loved was in danger—and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to help them.

I wish I could be there with you,I told her.

Yeah,she sighed again.Me too.

An eerie howl cut through the television speakers.

I think the Beast isn’t the only one hunting me,Bella gasped.

Another howl followed. And then snarling.

Wolves!Bella said, then started running.

I could feel her panic. Her fear. It was pumping through her body, rippling across the magical strand that linked me to her.

What’s going on?Tessa said.Where are the wolves? Are they gaining on Bella? I can’t see anything with these princes’ big, fat heads in the way!

Said princes cheered when a giant silver wolf tackled Bella to the ground. Her head smashed against a big rock, drawing blood. The wolf lifted its nose, sniffing. A feral grin pulled back its lips, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. Bella grabbed the big rock and struck the wolf in the face. It fell over.

Tossing the rock aside, Bella jumped to her feet and started running again. But the rest of the pack was still pursuing her, and they soon had her surrounded. She came to a sudden halt, trapped inside a ring of wolves. Hunger burned in their eyes. Growls rumbled in their chests, cresting their upturned lips. They were almost upon her.

I clenched my fists, readying my magic. Plan or no plan, I was not going to allow my sister to be mauled to death by a pack of wild wolves. If I had to, I’d teleport myself there and save her.

But I didn’t have to. There was a sudden explosion of magic, shooting out from Bella like a firework. Ribbons of light sliced through the wolves’ bodies, and the beasts dissolved into dust. Bella stumbled to the side, leaning against a tree trunk to catch her breath.

My fists unclenched.What was that?I asked Bella.

Defensive instinct,she said heavily.

That’s the same magic you wield when the Monster is in control.

Yes,she agreed.

Do you know what this means, Bella?I said, my mind churning through the possibilities opened up by this new revelation.It means that magic—that power—is always there, inside of you. And now that you know it’s always there, you can use it to defeat the Beast.

CHAPTER 17

BELLA AND THE BEAST

Bella was silent for a few long moments. I could see her there, on the television screen, staring blankly into the woods. The princes jeered, shouting at her to “do something interesting already!” as they chomped down on tiny tortellini appetizers and sipped blood-red wine from oversized glasses.

I don’t want to use that power,Bella finally said.

But Bella!I protested.This is the answer we’ve been looking for. We don’t have to wait until day for the Monster to come out to protect you from the Beast. You can protect yourself. This changes everything.

I don’t want everything to change,Bella replied.I want everything to go back to the way it was.She sighed.Even though that’s impossible.

“Move!” the princes coaxed her.

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